Byrd to fight Oct. 27

Flint native Chris Byrd is hoping he gets a third chance at the man who took his IBF heavyweight title.

But he'll need to beat two opponents just to get the opportunity to face title holder Wladimir Klitscho.

Klitschko, who is taking the rest of the year off from fighting while his injured left hand heals, will no doubt be paying attention to a series of bouts that will determine his mandatory challenger.

ESPN.com reports that two of those fights will take place this fall as the four fighters -- Byrd, Povetkin, Eddie Chambers and Calvin Brock -- will participate in a three-fight box-off to determine who will get a shot at Klitschko. All have committed to the tournament, according to their handlers.

In the first elimination fight, Byrd (40-3-1, 21 KOs), who has already lost twice to Klitschko, will face 2004 Russian Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist Povetkin (13-0, 9 KOs), one of the hottest prospects in the world. They will meet Oct. 27 in Germany.

In the second eliminator, the 25-year-old Chambers (29-0, 16 KOs) will meet Brock, 32, (31-1, 23 KOs) on Nov. 2 on Showtime at a site to be determined.

The winners of the two fall fights will meet in early 2008, with that winner earning a shot at Klitschko.

In his only loss, Brock was knocked out by Klitschko in a November title bout. He has won two in a row since.

Povetkin, 27, has moved quickly up the ranks by facing quality competition in his brief professional career.

Byrd, 37, has fought in Germany three times -- twice losing to Klitschko, but also upsetting older brother Vitali Klitschko via a ninth-round TKO in a 2000 title bout. Byrd, with one victory since losing his title via a bloody seventh-round TKO to Wladimir Klitschko in April 2006, has always been willing to fight all comers, even if means going overseas.

"To me this is what boxing is all about," Hornewer said. "This is why Chris Byrd deserves as much respect as anybody out there fighting today. Here's a guy who is willing to go to Germany to fight the Olympic gold medalist on his turf. Hats off to him. If Chris isn't successful in this fight, he needs to look at his career, but this fight has him very excited."